Dave
Clayton has a long career in the music business, working with a wide range
of the biggest artists around, including some of the giants on the
electronic scene like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and Camouflage. And he was
part of the production team TOY that so magically produced the last Human
League album Secrets back in 2001. He was so kind to take time out of his
busy schedule and with great enthusiasm answer a few questions for this website to
talk about his work with the band.

Interview by Niels Kolling, pictures by
Bruce Robinson

First a little background. How did you become involved in
the music business?

I became
involved when the British steel works in Sheffield were closed down
after the steel strike and I was asked to work in Middlesboro. No
disrespect but moving 175 miles up north when your 24 years old and
loving the music scene and life in Sheffield, sorry but NO THANKS.

So I looked for a way out in a band. VERY LUCKY I found one and started
touring Airforce bases and working mens clubs initially until ABC saw me
and asked me to DANCE!!!!.....phew!

Before you started working
with The Human League, what was your knowledge of the band? Did you notice
the more obscure first two
albums or did you discover them
when Dare
was released?

Well as it happens I am from
Sheffield and I knew of the league from rehearsal days at Martyn Wares
place of work (Lucas Cav Lights). I went down as my pal knew Martyn well
prior to their first ever shows. So yes I was fully aware of them.

You co-produced the last
album Secrets, which by most fans and critics rank as the best work
they’ve done since Dare. How do you view the Secrets album?

One of the best moments of
my "knob twiddling career thus far!!

Everyone was one the case
and it was an absolute pleasure all the way through musically! It's
a tragedy that it never really turned its critical accolade into Prizes
because the LEAGUE deserved it on this one!!

The demos I’ve heard from
the Secrets sessions are quite different to the end result. Is that a
fair reflection of the whole project that the production team took the songs in
another direction?

Well, Phillip thought that
as the demos had been done over a long period of time, we should extract
all the goodness from them and re-construct into the NEW sound.

Can you tell any information
about the instrumental version of Secrets that was rumored to be ready for
release? Like if it was a “straight” instrumental version of the songs or
more like reworked dub versions ala the Love And Dancing album?

Sorry No, but I am eagerly
awaiting!

All I Ever Wanted sounded
like THE comeback single for the band, but failed miserably in the charts,
since BBC Radio didn’t want to play it and Papillion Records went bust.
With the right backing did it have the potential to go Top Ten?

Most definitely.

Can you remember if there
was any tracks left over that didn’t make it to

the album or as b-sides to
the singles? And in case there was, what did they sound like?

I can’t recollect any, we
used everything I think? Hence the short musical pieces too.

The Human League has a vast
collection of vintage synths stacked away in their Sheffield studio. Were there any one item in particular
where your fingers started itching to “twiddle the knobs”?

Yep, the
SH5, System100 complete, but I did take a large amount of
mine.

Phil’s DOEPHER was a monster, but I left it to him!!

Korg 700s
and 700 were ace too.

Oakey has said in interviews
that sometimes an idea to a song originates from just sitting hours at a
synth turning the knobs to get one great sound and that lyrics is always
the last thing he does. How do working with The Human League differ to
other bands?

Each to their own I
say, but the League are renown for sound too, not just great pop
songs. The whole package is unique.

Out of their vast back
catalogue, can you name your favourite Human
League album and single? (It’s OK to mention the stuff you’ve
worked on yourself!)

Travelogue, Love
Unlimited, Secrets. Not being biased, but all of the tunes are FAB!

The band has grown into quite
a force as a live band. Have you ever experienced a
Human League concert? IAnd if you have, when was it and what did you think of
it?

I saw
them 5 years ago in Portsmouth. Very White!!

Would love to see them soon
again...where are they??

As I understand, TOY no longer
excists as a production team? Could you see yourself working with the band
again in some capacity?

I would love too! In ANY
capacity!! They are mega!!

I am currently producing with a long
time pal. We are called Pressurezone and would be up for anyone
contacting us with material. We have 2 studios etc, details on www.pressurezone.co.uk
and
www.thebeatfarm.co.uk for more
detailed info.

Looking at your CV, it’s a
wide range of artists you’ve worked with, including most of the giants of the electronic scene like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Camouflage and The Human League. Is this a
coincidence or do you have a soft spot for the electronic music?

A spot that is as soft as
the clouds I have been fortunate to live on!! All 9 of ‘em!!

You seem like a very busy man,
so what are the future plans for Dave Clayton?

Loads of synth twiddling and
producing and writing with anyone who feels the vibrations of the Zone.

Also watching loads of
football. Namely Sheffield United F.C

Thank you so much for
wanting to take part in this, I really appreciate that you take time out
to answer the questions.

An absolute pleasure. A new band I heard
recently, to watch for! THE SOUND AND THE FURY!! Worth a listen, mega stuff.